McClelland CPCC Epitome
(3.00)
A matured Virginia flake tobacco in the classic tradition. The quality of the leaf makes all the difference in this supremely smokable blend. This is matured Virginia at its finest, naturally sweet, mellow from extended aging, clean smoking... a pleasure to experience by either name.
Notes: Originally introduced in March, 1995 as "Avatar" for the Chicagoland Pipe Collectors' Club, is now part of the Club Blends Series.
Details
| Brand | McClelland |
| Series | Club Blends |
| Blended By | McClelland Tobacco Company |
| Manufactured By | McClelland Tobacco Company |
| Blend Type | Straight Virginia |
| Contents | Virginia |
| Flavoring | |
| Cut | Flake |
| Packaging | 50 grams tin |
| Country | United States |
| Production | No longer in production |
Profile
Strength
Mild to Medium
Extremely Mild -> Overwhelming
Flavoring
None Detected
None Detected -> Extra Strong
Room Note
Pleasant
Unnoticeable -> Overwhelming
Taste
Mild to Medium
Extremely Mild (Flat) -> Overwhelming
Average Rating
|
3.00 / 4
|
Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 Reviews
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jun 25, 2011 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Pleasant |
A nice looking thick broken flake with a beautiful mahogany color. The deep rich aroma of matured virginia is present... or ketchup, for those who have more experience with McDonalds fries than with aged tobacco - heh, heh. This smokes and smells like it's mostly red virginias, a nice earthy sense with a hint of sweetness. This required a fair amount of drying out prior to smoking. It seemed on the low end of the nicotine spectrum.
I agree with the previous reviewer that this is more savory than sweet. Heavy hay-like flavor with hints of spice and just a trace of sweetness... more of an unbuttered sweet roll flavor than sugar or citrus. Not a terribly complex tobacco but not a one trick pony, either. In the quartet of the McClelland pipe club VA reissues that I've smoked, this one lacks the depth of flavor of Rich Virginia Ribbon but eschews the bland quality of Aurora. I'd rate this as the equal of Quantum, very good but well short of greatness. RVR is the great one of that bunch for me. However, this one is well worth trying for flake lovers.
I agree with the previous reviewer that this is more savory than sweet. Heavy hay-like flavor with hints of spice and just a trace of sweetness... more of an unbuttered sweet roll flavor than sugar or citrus. Not a terribly complex tobacco but not a one trick pony, either. In the quartet of the McClelland pipe club VA reissues that I've smoked, this one lacks the depth of flavor of Rich Virginia Ribbon but eschews the bland quality of Aurora. I'd rate this as the equal of Quantum, very good but well short of greatness. RVR is the great one of that bunch for me. However, this one is well worth trying for flake lovers.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 04, 2017 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Medium to Full | Pleasant |
Lovely dried fruits and Christmas pudding aromas from the tin, this broken flake burns beautifully. It is sweet and savoury, and surprisingly complex given that it is a straight Va. There are at times notes that are almost DFK like, and sometimes the odd cigar note. I know, these aren't notes that should be there at all and YMMV.
Not sure how these flakes were crafted but there seems to be some stoved in here, which is always a plus for this little black duck.
Is on the mild side of medium for nicotine and has, to my nose, a pleasant room note. Just shy of 4 stars.
Not sure how these flakes were crafted but there seems to be some stoved in here, which is always a plus for this little black duck.
Is on the mild side of medium for nicotine and has, to my nose, a pleasant room note. Just shy of 4 stars.
Pipe Used:
Cobs
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Jan 28, 2012 | Medium | None Detected | Medium | Pleasant |
Nicely prepared 11/2x1x3/32" dark brown flakes that have the typical McClelland ketchup tin aroma that I don't relish. Ideal moisture content and a pliable flake result in easy packing without rubout as I prefer. Lacks the real VA sweetness that I like but smokes cool and without any bite or condensation. Don't see this as any better than several of their 20xx series bulk blends that are less than this one in unit cost.
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 05, 2017 | Mild to Medium | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Pleasant |
McClelland - CPCC Epitome (Club Blends)
In all fairness I opened this by mistake. With it being Sunday I fancied a relaxing aromatic and popped this believing it to be so. But, I'm not disappointed by my ineptitude!
My first mistake was thinking it's a ready rubbed or ribbon, it's actually a blend comprised of slightly broken dark flakes. These flakes are of a very good moisture amount and fairly robust in build.
On to the smoke: although the description highlights this as being 'naturally sweet' I get nowhere near enough sweetness to warrant that being a selling point. To me the smoke is more of a savoury one, the usual Virginia hay flavour and a bready note. It seems like a straight forward flavour: hay and bread without any fruit/citrus and only a miniscule amount of sweetness. It burns nicely, but like most flakes the speed's dependant on how finely the flakes have been rubbed!
Nicotine: just a little above mild. Room-note: pleasant.
McClelland Epitome? It's just shy of getting full marks. Three stars:
Recommended.
In all fairness I opened this by mistake. With it being Sunday I fancied a relaxing aromatic and popped this believing it to be so. But, I'm not disappointed by my ineptitude!
My first mistake was thinking it's a ready rubbed or ribbon, it's actually a blend comprised of slightly broken dark flakes. These flakes are of a very good moisture amount and fairly robust in build.
On to the smoke: although the description highlights this as being 'naturally sweet' I get nowhere near enough sweetness to warrant that being a selling point. To me the smoke is more of a savoury one, the usual Virginia hay flavour and a bready note. It seems like a straight forward flavour: hay and bread without any fruit/citrus and only a miniscule amount of sweetness. It burns nicely, but like most flakes the speed's dependant on how finely the flakes have been rubbed!
Nicotine: just a little above mild. Room-note: pleasant.
McClelland Epitome? It's just shy of getting full marks. Three stars:
Recommended.
Pipe Used:
Atinok Meerschaum
PurchasedFrom:
Smokingpipes.com
Age When Smoked:
One month
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 27, 2015 | Mild | None Detected | Mild | Very Pleasant |
Epitome is sort of a grassy tasting Virginia flake that doesn't offer any sweetness, but has the expected depth that a quality Virginia will provide. The flake form produced a slow and rather cool (for a Virginia) burn for me and I enjoyed puffing on it in the evenings when I had the time to concentrate on it.
Pipestud
Pipestud
| Reviewed By | Date | Rating | Strength | Flavoring | Taste | Room Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 29, 2018 | Mild | None Detected | Mild to Medium | Tolerable |
Beautiful broken flake with the signature McClelland VA tin note. The tin note on this one is a little more subdued and a bit spicier than normal. I have grown to love this smell. The smoke is slightly spicy, earthy and slightly sweet. A mild citrus like dry sweetness and some savory spiciness in the background. There are also some bready qualities to this smoke, like toasted rye bread. I do not get the grassyness or hay like flavors others have noted.
This requires some serious dry time. if you smoke it out of the tin it will likely provide you with a sore tongue.
This requires some serious dry time. if you smoke it out of the tin it will likely provide you with a sore tongue.
Pipe Used:
briar's, cob's and meerschaum
Age When Smoked:
10 years
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